Abstract
Based on the fixed-point observation data of soil moisture in different soil layers (0~150 cm) of fixed dunes and sandy grassland in the semi-arid region of Horqin Sandy Land, in the growing season (May to September) from 2005 to 2014, we conducted a comparative study on the seasonal, inter-annual, and spatial dynamics of soil moisture in the two types of sandy land. The results revealed that: (1) in the growing season, the soil moisture in sandy grassland was significantly higher than that in fixed dunes, and the multi-year average soil moisture in both types of sandy land was higher in July than in other months; (2) from 2005 to 2014, the average soil moisture in both types of sandy land was relatively high in 2010, and the average soil moisture in sandy grassland increased gradually with each year; specifically, there was a significant increase in soil moisture in June, while the average soil moisture in fixed dunes did not show an obvious increase; (3) the soil moisture in fixed dunes and sandy grassland generally showed a trend of “first increase, then decrease, and finally increase again”, with the increase in soil depth, and this change was more obvious for sandy grassland.
Highlights
As an important component of the hydrological cycle of the Earth’s surface system, soil moisture regulates the most basic spatial pattern and process of the land surface system, and connects a series of hydrological, ecological, climatic, and geological processes in the basin, as well as the storage, migration, and transformation of material and energy [1,2,3]
This paper uses the fixed-point observation data at different soil depths of fixed dunes and sandy grassland in the semi-arid region of Horqin Sandy Land for 10 consecutive growing seasons, and systematically compares and analyzes the seasonal, inter-annual, and spatial dynamics of soil moisture in these two types of sandy land, with the aim to provide a scientific basis for the effective use and management of soil moisture in this region
2.2 Study Methods In the study area, one special fixed dune and one sandy grassland were selected as the experimental plot, the main vegetation type of sandy grassland was Artemisia scoparia and Setaria viridisthe, and the main vegetation type of fixed dune was Artemisia halodendron and Caragana microphylla
Summary
As an important component of the hydrological cycle of the Earth’s surface system, soil moisture regulates the most basic spatial pattern and process of the land surface system, and connects a series of hydrological, ecological, climatic, and geological processes in the basin, as well as the storage, migration, and transformation of material and energy [1,2,3]. As an important water source of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions, soil moisture directly affects and restricts the growth, distribution, and stability of plants [4,5,6,7]. Horqin Sandy Land has a fragile ecological environment, there have been few comparative studies on soil moisture dynamics in different types of sandy land, and there is a lack of continuous and systematic observation of soil moisture [11]. This paper uses the fixed-point observation data at different soil depths of fixed dunes and sandy grassland in the semi-arid region of Horqin Sandy Land for 10 consecutive growing seasons, and systematically compares and analyzes the seasonal, inter-annual, and spatial dynamics of soil moisture in these two types of sandy land, with the aim to provide a scientific basis for the effective use and management of soil moisture in this region
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